The weather became increasingly colder, and the temperature in Hu Hai actually didn't fluctuate as intensely as in the north.
But near the riverside, the cold wind at night carried a chill with it.
An Nuannuan wore a long skirt suitable for autumn; she usually wouldn't go out aside from attending classes, except to sit in a milk tea shop.
Thus, she didn't have to worry about catching a cold, but ultimately, wearing a skirt did make it easier to catch a chill.
Xu Musen walked over, his hand slipping over her shoulder skillfully, gently cradling her full and soft cheeks.
They felt like slightly cool little white cotton candies.
The warmth of Xu Musen's palm made An Nuannuan feel as if she were being placed in an oven, feeling warm and safe.
"It's getting cold, and you're still wearing a skirt?"
Xu Musen held her small face, gently kneading it in his hands.
"Don't you like me wearing skirts?"
An Nuannuan slightly lifted her skirt, revealing a small section of her clean, fair leg, and her little feet clad in white cotton slippers.
After all, Xu Musen was a real "foot enthusiast."
"I like it, but you also have to pay attention to the temperature. Anyway, we're free today, why don't we go out and buy some clothes?"
Xu Musen asked her with a smile.
An Nuannuan's eyes also lit up; in truth, she wasn't too picky about clothes, as there were basically only skirts of one color at home.
After all, she used to lie in bed or sit in a wheelchair, and wearing pants was inconvenient.
But as long as she could go out and walk around with Xu Musen, she felt very happy.
"Don't rush, put on your shoes first."
Xu Musen took her into a small room.
It was said to be his room, but things belonging to An Nuannuan started accumulating little by little.
Her coats and shoes that she changed out of were usually kept there.
Thankfully, Xu Musen wasn't the type of creature that got turned on by fabric; otherwise, how dangerous would that be?
An Nuannuan sat on the bed, her little toes in cotton slippers swinging cheerfully, seemingly expressing her owner's delighted mood.
Xu Musen brought over a pair of white sneakers, kneeling in front of her.
"I can put them on myself."
"Can you tie your shoelaces yourself?"
"Well, there you have it."
Xu Musen laughed as he grabbed her ankle, touching the smooth skin.
He took off An Nuannuan's white cotton slippers, revealing her feet, even paler than the slippers.
Upon such a close inspection, he found they were flawless.
Each toe resembled a crystal-clear grape, the nails were trimmed round and neat, like thin slices of crystal with a tender pink color...
"Xu Musen, I washed my feet this morning too."
An Nuannuan suddenly told him very seriously.
It seemed she was boasting that the safety of her "food" was absolutely not an issue.
"That… you don't need to specially tell me that."
Xu Musen coughed, expertly putting on the small cotton socks for her first, then helped her into the shoes, tied the laces, and made a beautiful bow.
"All done, pretty, isn't it?"
An Nuannuan looked at the bow on her shoelaces, her eyes filled with fondness. She then looked at Xu Musen. "But why do I feel like you're so skilled at this?"
Xu Musen couldn't tell her that it was because in his past life, he had gotten used to tying Yao Mingyue's shoelaces.
Not to mention putting on socks or shoes, Xu Musen could even undo a bra with one hand and slip off stockings with two fingers without breaking a sweat!
"It must be a talent."
Xu Musen boasted shamelessly.
An Nuannuan never contradicted his words, only muttering softly, "Born foot enthusiast…"
Xu Musen extended his hand, skillfully grabbing An Nuannuan's small hand, soft in his palm, making one reluctant to let go.
An Nuannuan now used a cane, and her walking had become more and more proficient.
"Xiao Mai, take care of the shop for me."
Xu Musen waved to Zhao Lianmai.
Zhao Lianmai nodded, watching An Nuannuan, who had a happy face, as if she'd just fallen in love... no, as if she were a girl already deep in love.
It was actually quite beautiful to see.
The two walked on the street.
An Nuannuan walked slowly, and Xu Musen was not in a hurry, occasionally supporting her on the left, then on the right.
They didn't walk far from the school before resting under a bench next to a park.
Xu Musen gently massaged her legs. "Otherwise, shall we take a taxi to the mall in a bit?"
An Nuannuan shook her head and pointed towards the direction of the school with a soft, proud look on her face. "No need, this is the first time I've walked such a long distance, and besides, now I can finally walk with you."
For someone who nearly lost her legs, being able to walk like a normal person was already something to be proud of.
Xu Musen gently pinched her little face with a feeling of heartache and consolation. "It's going to get better and better. Maybe one day you'll be able to run, and I won't even be able to catch up with you."
An Nuannuan shook her head and reached out to gently grasp his fingers, "My legs are getting better partly thanks to you. Whether I can walk a hundred steps in the future, or a thousand or ten thousand, but the central axis from which I started will always be you."
An Nuannuan wasn't one to speak clichéd phrases of a young girl's infatuation, but she always managed to say something so earnestly that it made your heart melt.
This was a feeling of being depended on and relying on each other, also the feeling that most satisfied Xu Musen's "masculinity."
It was something he had not experienced in his previous life.
After all, even if a man lived off a woman, he would still prefer to be like "The Tiger of the Serious Crime Squad," tackling his soft rice hard.